Interlocking building block construction



Oct. 20, 1970 H. F. ZAGRAY INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCK CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1968 INVENTOR. HwroldE Zagray 94w ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1970 H. F. ZAGRAY INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCK CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1968 YIIIVVENTOR. .HMoZdF-Z Za gnzy ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1970 F, ZAGRAY 3,534,518

INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 27, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR. IO HwroZdE Zayz'wy l 43 r BY 7 v 43 1 6 /204401 & I0 43 ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1970 H. F. ZAGRAY INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCK CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,534,518 INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Harold F. Zagray, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Groutlock C0rp., East Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 763,096 Int. Cl. E04b 2/20; E04c 1/12 US. Cl. 52-258 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An interlocking building block construction comprising a rectangular masonry block having opposite sides, opposite upper and lower longitudinal faces and opposite vertical end faces. A pair of longitudinal ribs with flat top surfaces are located on the upper longitudinal face near the opposite sides of the block, and a correspondingly shaped longitudinal recess is formed in the lower longitudinal face.

There is a longitudinal groove centrally located between the ribs (12), said groove having downwardly and inwardly converging flat side walls and a flat bottom wall. A correspondingly shaped groove is located in the recess. A central vertical aperture is located entirely through the block midway between the vertical end faces and communicates at opposite ends with the upper and lower grooves. Oppositely disposed, transverse, narrow flat extensions of the apertures terminate near the opposite sides of the block.

Stretcher blocks have a reduced flat recess, substantially as wide as the longitudinal recess, in each vertical end and a central vertical groove in each recess communicates at its opposite ends with the grooves in the upper and lower longitudinal faces. Corner blocks, blocks for use at intersections of partition walls, and blocks for use at door jambs or window openings have such a recess and groove in only one vertical end face. Blocks for use in building pilasters and the like have both ends flat.

The blocks may be made in full standard width, 8" X 8" x 16", and half width, 4" x 8" X 16", and the full width and half width blocks may be interlocked in the same course to build a 12" thick wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to interlocking building block construction of concrete or the like, for the construction of walls, buildings, panels and similar masonry structures, and more particularly to building blocks of the general type which are laid up in the manner of a dry wall, and are provided with interior openings and grooves registering with each other to form a network of vertical and horizontal mortar spaces entirely within the wall for receiving grout or the like after the wall has been laid up, forming a network of grout entirely within the wall for bonding the blocks together, with no mortar joints appearing from the exterior of the wall.

The invention includes conventional size, 8" X 8" X 16", concrete blocks, and 4" X 8" X 16" blocks, and contemplates the construction of a 12" thick wall in which 8" thick blocks and 4" thick blocks are used side by side in a single course of blocks, and in which in certain courses the 8" thick blocks are on the outside of the wall, while in certain other courses the 4" thick blocks are on the outside of the wall.

The invention also includes not only stretcher blocks, which form the greater part of a wall or other structure, but several types of corner blocks for use at the corners of building walls and the like, for use at intersections of Patented Oct. 20, 1970 partition walls with other walls, blocks for forming door jambs or window openings, and blocks for use in building pilasters and the like.

Description of the prior art The most pertinent prior art of which I am aware comprises a series of interlocking building blocks which I have invented and patented, typical examples of which are disclosed in my prior Pats. No. 2,634,602 dated Apr. 14, 1953, No. 2,696,102 dated Dec. 7, 1954, and No. 2,882,715 dated Apr. 21, 1959.

In all of such prior art constructions there have been relatively narrow, half-round longitudinally disposed, centrally located grooves in the rib on the upper longitudinal face and the recess in th lower longitudinal face of each block. These grooves connect with the upper and lower ends of similar vertical grooves in the vertical end faces of the block, and with central vertical openings through the block.

Such prior art building blocks were concerned mostly with standard 8" X 8" X 16" blocks, and while some of them contemplated 4" X 8" X 16" blocks for building interior partition walls, none of them contemplated the interlocking of 8" blocks and 4" blocks to build a 12" thick wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have found that a wall constructed of this improved type of building blocks will be materially strengthened by providing additional mortar spaces in the upper and lower longitudinal faces and opposite vertical transverse end faces and transversely disposed extensions in the central vertical opening of each block.

I have also found that the tendency for grout to shrink away from the half-round walls of the grooves in such prior blocks, is substantially overcome by providing the inwardly converging flat side walls and flat bottom wall groove construction.

I have also found that such building blocks may be materially lightened in weight by replacing said relatively narrow half-round grooves with relatively wide and deep grooves each having inwardly converging flat side walls and a flat bottom wall.

In general terms, the invention may be briefly described as including a standard size 8" X 8" X 16" stretcher block having a pair of opposite parallel fiat sides, upper and lower parallel longitudinal faces and opposite vertical transverse end faces. A pair of longitudinal ribs of a combined width only slightly less than the width of the block are formed upon the upper longitudinal face and have substantially fiat top surfaces. There is a correspondingly shaped longitudinal recess formed in the lower longitudinal face of the block.

Narrow, flat, vertical air spaces are formed in each of the ribs and extend vertically through the block to the recess in the lower longitudinal surface thereof.

A centrally located longitudinal groove is formed be tween the ribs, being of considerable width and of a depth equal to the height of the ribs. The side walls of the groove are flat and converge inwardly to a flat bottom wall. A correspondingly shaped groove is formed in the recess in the lower longitudinal face of the block, and the ends of these longitudinal grooves connect with the upper and lower ends of correspondingly shaped vertical grooves in the transverse vertical end surfaces of the block.

As in prior practice, both transverse vertical end walls of the stretcher block are slightly recessed so as to form flat transverse vertical portions of the mortar spaces between the ends of the block extending to points near opposite sides of the block.

A centrally located vertical cylindrical aperture is located entirely through the block from top to bottom communicating at opposite ends with the upper and lower longitudinal grooves.

Another improvement in the present block is the provision of oppositely disposed transverse narrow, flat extensions of this central aperture, terminating near the opposite sides of the block and extending vertically from the ribs in the upper longitudinal face to the recess in the lower longitudinal face. This construction not only provides additional mortar space to reduce the weight of the block and increase the strength of a wall constructed therefrom, but also provides an easy method for separating the block into two half blocks.

Corner blocks are formed which are similar to the stretcher blocks except that one vertical end face is fiat instead of being recessed and grooved, a circular transverse mortar aperture is located halfway between the center of the block and the closed end, two spaced circular air spaces are located through one end portion of each of the ribs instead of one elongated air space at this side of the center. Aligned, transversely disposed grooves are located in the tops of the ribs on each side of said central mortar opening. Transversely disposed notches are located in the bottom of the corner block, between the center and the fiat end thereof, for fitting over the ribs and into the groove of a block in the course below.

A modified form of corner block is constructed as described above excepting that between the center and the closed end of the block the ribs are cut away at the top so as to form only four substantially square pads, one surrounding each of the four circular air spaces at this end of the block.

A specially designed jamb block is provided for use at a door or window opening. This block is very similar to the first described corner block excepting that there are no transversely disposed grooves in the tops of the ribs and no transversely disposed notches in the bottom of the block, and at the fiat or closed end thereof there is a depending tapered projection to fit into the groove in the upper longitudinal surface of a block in the next lower course.

A specially designed pilaster block is also provided especially for use in connection with 4" thick blocks for building a 12" thick wall with one or more pilasters formed therein, this block being closed at both ends.

Stretchers, corner blocks of varying lengths, and pilaster blocks are formed in the 4" thick blocks adapted to be interlocked with the 8" thick standard size blocks.

An object of the invention is to provide a standard size 8" x 8" x 16" concrete block designed to be interlocked with blocks 4" thick and 8" high for building a 12" thick Wall or a pilaster.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block of the character referred to having substantially wide, deep mortar grooves with inwardly converging fiat side walls and a fiat bottom wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a building block having a central vertical mortar aperture with transversely disposed flat extensions terminating near opposite side walls of the block for allowing grout to run into an adjoining 4" thick block, for easily separating the blocks into half units, and for allowing an increased amount of mortar throughout the wall for greater transverse and compressive strength.

A still further object of the invention is to provide enlarged horizontal grooves at the top and bottom of the block to allow for easier placement of horizontal reinforcing rods and to permit easier grout flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a block of this character having an enlarged center opening and end grooves permitting easier grout flow through the wall, and to permit easier placement of vertical rods.

A further object of the invention is to provide a block of the character referred to having enlarged horizontal and vertical grout grooves therein creating a solid wedge within the wall, increasing both compressive and transverse wall strength.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a block having a vertical central mortar aperture provided wtih transverse oppositely disposed narrow, flat extensions allowing the grout to spread through the wall for tighter joints at corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an 8" x 8" x 16" stretcher block embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper side of an 8" x 8 x 16" corner block;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lower side of the corner block shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper side of another form of 8" x 8 x 16" corner block;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an intersecting wall and jamb unit;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of 8" x 8 x 16" stretcher block;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an 8" x 8" x 16" pilaster block;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a 4" x 8" x 16" stretcher block;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a 4" x 8" x 16" pilaster block;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a 4" x 8" x 16" corner block;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a 4" x 8" x 12" corner block;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a 4" x 8" x 8 corner block;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of a corner of a 12" thick wall with 8" thick blocks on the outside of the wall;

FIG. 14 is a similar view of either the next upper or lower course in a wall and as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13, with 8" thick blocks on the inside of the wall;

FIG. 16 is a similar view of either the next upper or lower course in a wall such as shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a plan sectional view of an 8" thick wall showing a corner, and intersecting wall and jamb, an 8" x 16" pilaster, and a 4" x 16 pilaster;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a 12" thick wall built of interlock 8 thick blocks and 4" thick blocks;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of a masonry wall built of building blocks embodying the invention, part of the blocks being removed to show the network of mortar within the wall; and

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a modified form of 4" corner block.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, an 8" x 8" x 16" standard size stretcher block embodying the invention is indicated generally at 10, and shown in detail in FIG. 1.

Opposite side surfaces 11 of the block are fiat and rectangular shape and 8 x 8" x 16" size customary in concrete or cement building blocks. A spaced pair of ribs 12 are formed on the upper longitudinal face 13 of the block near opposite side surfaces 11, and are longitudinally coextensive therewith. These ribs are shown as tapering slightly upward, as is customary in this particular type of building block.

A longitudinal recess 14, of similar size and shape to the combined pair of ribs 12, is formed in the lower longitudinal face of the block, to receive the ribs 12 of similar blocks when a wall is constructed therefrom.

Centrally located, longitudinally disposed grooves 15 and 16 are formed in the ribs 12 and lower recess 14 respec tively.

Each of the grooves 15 and 16 is of the same size and shape, being relatively large as compared to the ribs 12 and recess 14, and comprises the inwardly converging flat side walls 17 and the flat bottom wall 18.

Each transverse vertical end face of the block has a transverse vertical recess 19 therein extending from the top to the bottom of the block, between the vertical flanges 20, which are extensions of the side surfaces 11.

A central vertical groove 21 is formed in each transverse vertical recess 19, and is of the same size and shape as the upper and lower grooves 15 and 16, having the converging flat side walls 17 and flat bottom wall 18. The grooves '21 communicate at opposite ends with the ends of the upper and lower grooves 15 and 16.

A central vertical aperture 22 is located entirely through the block from top to bottom, communicating at opposite ends with the upper and lower longitudinal grooves 15 and 16, respectively. Oppositely disposed, transversely located narrow flat extensions 23 of the central apertures 22 extend from the center to points near opposite sides 11 of the block and entirely through the block from top to bottom thereof.

Cored air spaces 24, preferably elongated as shown in FIG. 1, are located vertically entirely through the block from top to bottom. These air spaces are located on each side of the longitudinal grooves 15 and 16, so as not to communicate with the network of mortar spaces provided by the longitudinal and vertical grooves 15, 16 and 21 and the central aperture 22 and its extensions 23.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown a corner block, indicated generally at 25, for use with the stretcher blocks 10 in forming corners of walls. This corner block is of the same general construction as the stretcher block 10, having the flat, substantially rectangular opposite side surfaces 11a, the ribs 12a upon the upper longitudinal face 13a, the lower recess 14a, and the upper and lower longitudinal grooves 15a and 16a respectively.

While there is a transverse vertical recess 19a and central vertical groove 21a in one vertical transverse end face of the corner block, the other vertical transverse face is flat as shown at 26.

Two vertical apertures 27 replace the elongated air space 24 in each rib 12a, between the longitudinal center of the block and the flat face 26. In the other half of the block, the elongated narrow air openings 24a are provided, similar to the air openings 24 in the stretcher block.

A vertical mortar aperture 28 is located entirely through the median center of the block halfway between the central vertical aperture 22a and the fiat end face 26 of the block. Transversely disposed grooves 29 are formed in the ribs 12a on each side of the vertical mortar aperture 28, for the purpose of locating angular reinforcing rods in the mortar spaces around corners of a wall constructed of blocks embodying the invention, as shown at 67 in FIG. 17.

For the purpose of fitting over the ribs and into the grooves in the upper longitudinal faces of blocks in the course below, the lower sides of the corner block, between the center thereof and the fiat end face 26, are provided with the spaced, upwardly tapered transverse notches 30 and the intervening tapered lug 31.

In FIG. 4 is shown a modified form of corner block, indicated generally at 32, which differs from the corner block 25 only in that all of the ribs 12b are cut away, between the central vertical aperture 22a and the flat end face 26, except four substantially square pads 33, surrounding the four vertical air apertures 27. This permits the bonding of two 4" blocks or an 8" block to the corner block 32.

In FIG. is shown an intersecting wall and jamb unit, indicated generally at 34. This block is very similar to the corner block 25, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, with two major exceptions. The transverse grooves 29 of the corner block 25 are eliminated and the fiat transverse end 35 instead of having a straight lower edge, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, has two spaced notches 36 therein with a depending lug 37 therebetween. The remainder of this block is the same as the corner block 25, and the same reference numerals are used to designate similar parts.

In FIG. 6 is shown a modified form of stretcher block, indicated generally at 38. This block differs from the stretcher block 10, shown in FIG. 1, mainly in that vertical air apertures 39 replace the elongated air openings 24 in one half of the block and a vertical mortar aperture 40 is located midway therebetween. The remainder of the block 38 is the same as the stretcher block 10 and the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

In FIG. 7 is shown an 8" x 8" X 16" pilaster block embodying the invention, the block being indicated generally at 41 and having the opposite sides with ribs on the upper longitudinal face with groove 15c therebetween, the recess in the lower longitudinal face with groove 16c therein and the fiat vertical transverse end faces 42. This block has the central vertical aperture 220 with narrow fiat extensions 230. The ribs 12c have the elongated vertical air apertures 240 in one end of the block and the vertical air apertures 27c in the other end thereof. The vertical mortar aperture 280 is located entirely through the block midway between the air apertures 27c.

In FIG. 8 is shown a 4" x 8" x 16" stretcher block designed to interlock with the 8 thick block above described, to build a 12" thick wall. This 4" stretcher block is indicated generally at 43 and has the opposite flat sides 11a, upper longitudinal surface 13d with longitudinal rib 12d centrally located thereon. The rib 12d is of the same size and shape as the ribs 12 in the 8" stretcher block 10 shown in FIG. 1.

A substantially diamond-shaped vertical mortar aperture 44, of a length equal to the width of the rib 12a, is located entirely through the block. Elongated vertical air spaces 24d are located entirely through the longitudinal central portion of the block on each side of the diamond shaped mortar aperture 44. In each transverse vertical end face 45 of the block 43 is located a vertical shallow V- shaped or half diamond shaped groove 46.

A 4" pilaster block 47, shown in FIG. 9, is identically the same as the stretcher block 43 shown in FIG. 8 with the exception that the transverse vertical end faces 48 are flat rather than grooved, and the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 8 are applied to corresponding parts.

In FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are shown the 4 corner blocks. The 4" x 8" x 16" corner block 49 shown in FIG. 10 has the opposite side faces 11d, the upper and lower longitudinal faces 13d, the rib 1211 on the upper longitudinal face, the central vertical diamond-shaped mortar aperture 44, the elongated vertical air spaces 24d, and the longitudinal groove 50 in the lower longitudinal face, all as in the block 43 shown in FIG. 8.

A vertical shallow V-shaped groove 46 is formed in only one transverse vertical end of the block 49 while the other transverse vertical end 51 is flat like the transverse vertical ends of the block 47, as shown in FIG. 9. A transverse horizontal groove 52, of the same width and height as the groove 50, is located in the lower longitudinal face of the block 49 adjacent the flat transverse vertical end 51 thereof.

The 4" x 8" x 12" corner block 53 shown in FIG. 11 is substantially the same as the block 49 shown in FIG. 10 excepting for the length, and the same reference numerals are applied to similar parts thereof.

In FIG. 12 is shown the 4 x 8" x 8" corner block 54 which may be substantially the same as one-half of the block 49 shown in FIG. 10, and the same reference numerals apply to similar parts.

The modified 12" long 4" corner block 59 shown in detail in FIG. 20 has opposite flat sides 11d, upper and lower longitudinal faces 13d, one fiat transverse vertical end 51, a shallow half-diamond shaped vertical groove 46 in the other vertical end and two equally-spaced diamond-shaped vertical openings 44, a longitudinal notch 50 in its lower longitudinal face, and a transverse notch 52 therein near the flat vertical end wall 51.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 are shown diagrammatically two courses of 8" thick and 4" thick blocks forming a wall 12" thick, with the 8" thick blocks on the outside of the wall. Two courses of a similar structure are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 with the 4" thick blocks on the outside while the 8" thick blocks are on the inside of the wall. In either case, it will be seen that 8" corner blocks are used for outside corners regardless of whether 8" thick or 4 thick blocks are used in the outside of the wall.

It should be understood that in the same wall certain courses may have the 8" thick blocks on the outside of the wall while certain other courses of blocks in the same wall have the 4" thick blocks on the outside. It should be understood also that in the same course the 8" thick blocks may be located on the outside of the wall through a portion of the course and the 4" thick blocks on the outside through the remainder of the course.

In FIG. 17 is illustrated the flexibility of the improved building blocks showing the manner in which outside walls, corners, intersecting walls, jambs or window openings, a 4" partition wall intersecting an 8" wall, and pilasters formed of an 8 block and one or more 4" blocks may be formed.

Two outside Walls, indicated generally at 55 and 56, formed principally of stretcher blocks 10, are shown joined at a corner by corner blocks 32, such as shown in detail in FIG. 4. At the corner, the wall 56 is shown one course higher than the wall 55, the left-hand portion of the corner block 32 in the wall 55 being hidden below the corresponding portion of the corner block 32 in the wall 56.

A wall, indicated generally at 57, is shown intersecting the wall 55 by means of a corner block 25 in the wall 57. The corner block 25 is as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is shown located over one end portion of a modified stretcher 38, such as shown in detail in FIG. 6 in the wall 55. Attention is called to the fact that the intersecting wall 57 is shown as being one course higher than the outer wall 55-, whereby only the righthand half of the block 38 is shown, the other half being covered by the block 25 in the wall '57.

For this purpose a 4" stretcher block 43 and a 12" long 4" corner block 59, as shown in detail in FIG. 20, are laid side by side in the same course in the wall 57. A corner block 59 is also provided at the intersecting end of the partition wall 58.

A pilaster is indicated generally at 60 in the wall 55. Each course of this pilaster may be composed of a 4" stretcher block 43, an 8" pilaster block 42, and a 4" pilaster block 47 laid up side by side, or by an 8" stretcher block and an 8" pilaster block. At 61 is indicated generally a pilaster, each course of which may be formed of one 4" stretcher block 43 and an 8" pilaster block 42, or by an 8" stretcher block and a 4" pilaster block.

As shown in FIG. 18, a 12" wall may be constructed of courses, each of which comprises 8" blocks and 4" blocks laid side by side and interlocked with blocks in the adjacent courses. Sincethe single longitudinal rib on the top of the 4" block is of the same size and shape as each of the spaced ribs on top of the 8" block, and since the space 62 between the ribs 12 and 12d is the same size and shape as the groove 15 between the ribs 12, it is seen in FIG. 18 that adjacent courses formed of 8" and 4" blocks will interlock regardless of whether the 8" blocks or 4 blocks are on the outside of the wall.

From an inspection of FIGS. 17 and 18, it will be seen how grout may flow from the mortar space of an 8" block into a 4 block or vice versa. For instance, at a",

b, c and d in FIG. 17 it is seen how grout will flow from the vertical groove 21 of an 8" stretcher block 10 into the shallow V-shape, or half-diamond shape, recess 46 of a 4" stretcher block or vice versa.

In FIG. 18 it is seen how grout may flow from one of the narrow fiat extensions 23 of the central vertical groove of an 8 stretcher block into the vertical shallow V-shape recess 46 in the end of a 4" block 43 and also how grout may flow from the diamond shaped central vertical aperture 44 of a 4" block 43 into the vertical end recess 19 in the transverse vertical end of an 8" block 10.

It will be obvious that when a wall is laid up of the blocks shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive, and grout is poured into the intercommunicating network of mortar spaces thus formed, it fills the mortar spaces with a continuous network of bonding mortar which extends longitudinally and vertically throughout the interior of the wall with flat transverse vertical portions, having central reinforcing ribs, extending vertically throughout the wall at intervals of half a block length.

It will also be seen that the substantially hexagonal horizontal portions of the mortar network, formed by the longitudinal grooves, as well as the vertical reinforcing ribs formed by the vertical grooves, are rugged and are so shaped that there is less tendency for the mortar to pull away from the grooves when drying.

The above features are clearly shown in FIG. 19, in which is illustrated a portion of a masonry wall constructed of the improved building blocks, some of the blocks being removed from the wall to show the network of bonding mortar formed within the wall.

As shown in this figure, this network of bonding mortar comprises the horizontal, substantially hexagonal shaped portions 63, formed in the horizontal grooves 15 and 16 in the upper and lower longitudinal faces respectively of the blocks, and the vertical transverse portions 64, formed in the flat narrow extensions 23 of the central vertical openings 22, and the transverse vertical recesses 19 in the transverse end faces, respectively, of the blocks. The portions 64 are centrally reinforced by the continuous integral ribs having half-round portions 65 formed in the central vertical openings 22 and alternate half-hexagonal portions 66 formed in the vertical grooves 21.

Thus, the interior of the wall is considerably strengthened over prior practice by a much more rugged network of mortar, the vertical transverse portions extending continuously throughout the entire height of the wall and nearly through the wall transversely from the inside to the outside thereof, and being spaced apart a distance equal to only one-half the length of a block. And the hexagonal, horizontal portions are of considerably greater cross section than the prior cylindrical horizontal portions of mortar.

It has been found that blocks made in accordance with the disclosure in FIGS. 1 to 7 weigh several pounds less than blocks made in accordance with the disclosures in my prior patents, above referred to, when constructed of the same materials.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block including a pair of opposite sides, a pair of opposite upper and lower longitudinal faces and a pair of opposite vertical end faces transverse of said sides and said longitudinal faces, a pair of spaced longitudinal ribs formed on the upper longitudinal face, said spaced pair of ribs being of a combined Width only slightly less than the width of the block and having substantially flat top surfaces, there being a correspondingly shaped longitudinal recess formed in the lower of said longitudinal faces, there being a longitudinal centrally located groove between the ribs, said groove having downwardly and inwardly converging flat side walls and a flat bottom wall, and a correspondingly shaped longitudinal central groove in the recess, there being a central vertical aperture located entirely through the block midway between said vertical end faces and communicating at opposite ends with said upper and lower longitudinal grooves, there being oppositely disposed, transverse, narrow flat extensions of said aperture terminating near said opposite sides of the block.

2. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block 'as defined in claim 1 in which there are flanges on at least one vertical end face, said flanges extending substantially from one of said longitudinal faces to the other and each flange having a surface thereof coplanar with a side of the block, said flanges defining a transverse vertical recess in said vertical end face, there being a centrally disposed vertical groove in said vertical recess, said vertical groove communicating at its ends with said longitudinal grooves.

3. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 2 in which there are flanges on each vertical end face, said flanges defining a transverse vertical recess in each transverse vertical end face and a centrally disposed vertical groove in each transverse vertical recess.

4. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 1 in which both of said transverse vertical end faces are flat.

5. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 2 in which the other transverse vertical end face is flat.

6. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 1 in which there are vertical air spaces located through said ribs between said central vertical aperture and each of said transverse vertical end faces, said air spaces extending entirely through the block from top to bottom.

7. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 6 in which there are two elongated air spaces between the central vertical aperture and one transverse vertical end face and four spaced vertical air spaces with a centrally located vertical mortar aperture between the central vertical aperture and the other transverse vertical end face.

8. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 7 in which there are two spaced transverse notches in the lower longitudinal face below said four spaced vertical air spaces, said notches being of a size, shape and spacing corresponding to the size, shape and spacing of the ribs on the upper longitudinal face.

9. A rectangularly shaped masonry building block as defined in claim 1, in which there are transversely disposed grooves in the ribs midway between the central vertical aperture and one transverse vertical end face of the block for placing angular reinforcing rods.

10. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks, each course comprising a plurality of blocks, each block including a pair of opposite sides, a pair of opposite upper and lower longitudinal faces and a pair of opposite vertical end faces transverse of said sides and said longitudinal faces, a pair of spaced longitudinal ribs formed on the upper longitudinal face, said spaced pair of ribs being of a combined width only slightly less than the width of the block and having substantially flat top surfaces, there being a correspondingly shaped longitudinal recess formed in the lower of said longitudinal faces, there being a longitudinal centrally located groove between the ribs, said groove having downwardly and inwardly converging fiat side walls and a flat bottom wall, and a correspondingly shaped longitudinal central groove in the recess, there being a central vertical aperture located entirely through the block midway between said vertical end faces and communicating at opposite ends with said upper and lower longitudinal grooves, there being oppositely disposed, transverse, nar row flat extensions of said aperture terminating near said opposite sides of the block, located side by side and interlocked with blocks of the same height and length and of one-half the width of the blocks described above each of said second-named blocks including a pair of opposite sides, a pair of opposite longitudinal faces and a pair of opposite transverse end faces, a longitudinal rib formed on the upper of said longitudinal faces, said rib being of the same size and shape as the spaced pair of longitudinal ribs on the first named masonry building blocks, there being a longitudinal groove in the lower longitudinal face shaped to receive said rib, there being a central vertical aperture located entirely through the block midway between the transverse vertical end faces and terminating near opposite sides of the block.

11. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks as defined in claim 10 in which the central vertical opening in each of the second-named blocks is of diamond shape and in which there is a vertical groove of substantially half-diamond shape in each transverse vertical end face thereof.

12. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks as defined in claim 10 in which the second-named blocks are located on the inside of the wall in some courses and on the outside of the wall in other courses.

13. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks as defined in claim 10 in which the second-named blocks are located on the inside of the wall in a portion of one course and on the outside of the wall in another portion of the same course.

14. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks as defined in claim 11 in which the second-named blocks are located on the inside of the wall in some courses and on the outside of the wall in other courses.

15. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks as defined in claim 11 in which the second-named blocks are located on the inside of the Wall in a portion of one course and on the outside of the wall in another portion of the same course.

16. A wall formed of superposed courses of rectangularly shaped masonry building blocks, each block being a rectangularly shaped masonry building block including a pair of opposite sides, a pair of opposite upper and lower longitudinal faces and a pair of opposite vertical end faces transverse of said sides and said longitudinal faces a pair of spaced longitudinal ribs formed on the upper longitudinal face, said spaced pair of ribs being of a combined width only slightly less than the width of the block and having substantially flat top surfaces, there being a correspondingly shaped longitudinal recess formed in the lower of said longitudinal faces, there being a longitudinal centrally located groove between the ribs, said groove having downwardly and inwardly converging flat side walls and a flat bottom wall, and a correspondingly shaped longitudinal central groove in the recess, there being a central vertical aperture located entirely through the block midway between said vertical end faces and communicating at opposite ends with said upper and lower longitudinal grooves, there being oppositely disposed, transverse, narrow flat extensions of said aperture terminating near said opposite sides of the block, flanges on each vertical end face, said flanges extending substantially from one of said longitudinal faces to the other and each flange having a surface thereof coplanar with a side of the block, said flanges defining a transverse vertical recess in each vertical end face, there being a centrally disposed vertical groove in each vertical recess, said vertical groove communicating at its ends with said longitudinal grooves, the blocks in each course having the flanges of the transverse faces in abutting engagement, with the centrally disposed vertical grooves of the opposite transverse vertical faces in opposed relationship so as to form wide, flat, transverse mortar spaces of slightly less width than the block with central enlarged portions formed partly in each transverse face of the block and in alignment with the central vertical apertures of the blocks in adjacent courses, the blocks of each course being seated on the upper longitudinal faces of the blocks in the next lower course with the longitudinal ribs projecting up into the longitudinal recesses to form central longitudinal mortar spaces including the opposed longitudinal grooves of the adjacent longitudinal faces of the course, and an intercommunicating network of mortar in all of the longitudinal centrally located grooves, transverse mortar spaces, longitudinally disposed mortar spaces in opposite sides of the longitudinal recesses and central vertical openings with flat narrow extensions thereof in the blocks.

17. A wall as defined in claim 16 and a wall of the same construction located at a 90 angle thereto and intersecting the first named wall at a point intermediate its ends, the

- 12 v blocks in each of said walls at the point of intersection having four vertical air spaces located through the ribs with a centrally located vertical mortar aperture between the central vertical aperture and one transverse vertical end face. 1 v 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,693 3/ 1896 Geraerdts 52-437 811,534 2/1906 Huston 52--286 1,171,036 2/1916 Gamewell 52438 1,581,574 4/1926 Heath et a1 52-100 2,749,739 6/1956 Zagray 52286 2,882,715 4/1959 Zagray 52--436 2,994,162 8/1961 Frantz 52-495 FOREIGN PATENTS 816,452 '10/ 1951 Germany. 883,874- 7/1953 Germany. 204,263 9/ 1923 Great Britain. 1 827,508 2/ 1960 Great Britain; 463,903 6/1951 Italy.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 

